Russian police say three journalists and a human rights activist were kidnapped in the Caucasus region of Ingushetia, then taken to a field and beaten.
The three employees of Ren TV and Oleg Orlov, the head of the Russian rights organization, Memorial, told police that masked men entered their hotel in the regional capital city of Nazran early Saturday, and put bags over their heads.
They said the kidnappers took them to a field, beat them, then abandoned them. The four made their way to a nearby police station where they gave statements to the authorities.
The journalists were in Ingushetia to report on a protest demonstration scheduled for Saturday.
At least 150 people gathered for the rally to protest human rights violations in the southern republic. Police detained at least three people at the rally.
Interfax reports that one of the journalists Artyom Vystosky has serious injuries.
Ren TV is a Moscow-based television channel.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
